Where beer geeks get offended. Welcome to the world of beer as viewed by the founder of the New Albanian Brewing Company in New Albany, Indiana, who reminds you that beer is far too important to be left to Rate Advocate.

Friday, December 25, 2009

I'm trying to catch up on postings, having been in Germany the past week and beset with various hindrances to timeliness. Here are the postings chronicling the week through the 25th, as originally published at my NA Confidential blog.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

For those just tuning in, the Curmudgeon writes 700-word beer colums every two weeks for the Louisville Eccentric Observer (LEO). If memory serves, the column originated in 2007, beginning with 300 words, and later being upped to 700. Then, as now, these alternate with Sara Havens' "The Bar Belle."

The final two contributions from 2009 are below. They survey the Louisville beer scene as we head into what I'm sure will be a another remarkable year in beer.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

A couple months ago, I took my cue from the Brewers Association and asked my 9th District Congressman to join the Small Brewers Caucus. Here's Rep. Baron Hill's positive response.

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December 17, 2009

Dear Mr. Baylor,

Thank you for contacting me about the Small Brewers Caucus. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this matter.

I'm happy to report that I have recently joined the ranks of the Small Brewers Caucus. I appreciate that small brewers often drive innovation by experimenting with new and creative products. As a former small businessman, I understand the unique challenges that different business models face. With several breweries in my district, I look forward to the opportunity to learn more about the variety of issues facing small brewers. I will be sure to keep your thoughts in mind as issues that relate to small brewers come before Congress.

Thank you again for contacting me about the Small Brewers Caucus. Please feel free to call me at 202.225.5315 if you have any further questions or comments. If you would like to receive a copy of my periodic email updates on my Congressional activities, please visit my web site.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Apologies for being busy on Thursday and unable to preview the Anstich keg from Lang-Bräu. It turned out to be another inexplicable fill – not Märzen at all, but soft and golden, with enough hop to suggest Pils, not enough to conjure Keller, and in the end, likely a Vollbier/Helles from the countryside.

Today it’s Günther-Bräu, and tomorrow, Weissenohe Monk’s Fest.

The final Anstich keg from the current shipment will pour next week on Wednesday, December 23. It’s Weissenohe Monk’s Christmas beer (see links below).

To briefly recap, Franconian gravity pour (Anstich) mania grips the Public House each time Mike and Jared tap one of these special 20-liter beauties. That means 40 half-liter pours and out, at the fair price of $5 each. The present allotment was intended to be composed of Märzens, and mostly has been. All so far have been superbly conditioned and delicious, with my pick for best being last Friday’s Rothenbach.

Günther-BräuBrewery websiteDan Shelton's note: "In little Burgkunstadt, just outside of Kulmbach, in Upper Franconia, this is one of three small family-owned brewpubs in a town of a few hundred people. Makes only 6000 hectoliters a year. Founded in 1840."

Klosterbrauerei WeißenoheBrewery websiteFrom the Shelton Brothers site: "Due to a severe and chronic monk shortage, and the steady advance of secularization all over Europe, most monasteries in Germany have been given over to private families. It happened at Weissenohe in 1803. The Winkler family that assumed the monastery and the grounds at Weissenohe has maintained the chapel and the brewery (and added a typical guesthouse eatery). Today, there are still services in the chapel, and Urban Winkler, who represents the youngest generation in a line of family brewers, still makes beer in the traditional way."

Currently personal tastes are running toward garlic cream sauce, bacon, anchovies and prosciutto. That's because Baltic Porters typically like meat, and the more strongly flavored flesh, the better. If BoomBozz had duck or venison on the menu, I'd try them. However, it's a gourmet pizza menu, which does just fine by me, and choices need not be restricted to meat.

I believe that our Solidarity can be taught to co-exist quite well with garlic, so I may add fresh garlic to the pie, too.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Monday, December 28, is the date for the annual gathering of the Pants Down Potluck Port Drinkers Circle of New Albany, Southern Indiana, Oz and points afar.

As before, the port tasters will be imbibing in the Prost banquet and special events wing of Rich O's Public House/NABC. Starting time is 7:00 p.m.

Last year's gathering was especially memorable, wasn't it? Come to think of it, I can't remember. I feel cheated somehow, even deprived, but it will be an even less memorable port tasting for me in 2009, because I will not be in attendance. This necessary absence owes to vacation. Sorry, I'll have to make do with beer in Bamberg.

Your genial host in 2009 will be my usual co-conspirator, Tim Eads, who missed the 2008 gathering. Funny how this seems to be working out, isn't it?

The plan this year is to have a server on duty in Prost to handle needs not related to the port and snacks brought by participants, including serving food and other beverages, and helping with the clean-up afterwards. For those planning on dining at the Public House prior to the port tasting's commencement, we'll try to have our server ready at 6:00 p.m., and you can set up camp in Prost at that time.

Your only requirement as a group is to ensure a proper gratuity. Tim will be reminding you of this.

As always, the 2009 tasting is open to all comers, with no cover or minimum, but with the only firm requirement being that participants bring a bottle of Port and a snack (cheese, salami, olives or other munchables) to the gathering. Since I will not be present this year, the "fine cigar for the hosting Publican" option is not available. Recall also that Prost is smoke-free, and you'll be forced to retreat to the bar for the consolations of tobacco.

Prior to my only visit to Portugal in 2000, the Danish gonzo journalist Kim Wiesener, a longtime friend, recommended Richard Mayson's "Port and the Douro" as the finest overview of all things Port. Indeed, it is excellent, and if you're interested in Port, it's a must-have.There's a newer edition available, and I've spotted it recently at Destinations Booksellers in New Albany.

Here's a capsule description:

Mayson recounts the history of this great fortified wine up to the present day, including an assessment of major vintages back to 1896. He examines the physical condition of the region, grape varieties and vineyards with an appraisal of each of the main quintas, providing a directory of individual producers and shippers.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Here's the schedule for the final four Anstich kegs from the current batch. There's be more information later in the week; for now, know that they're usually tapped around lunchtime, and often depleted by early evening, so plan accordingly if you want to be sure of getting a taste.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Friday's Anstich (gravity pour) keg of Rothenbach Märzen made the game worth the flame, because it was wonderful. Firmly amber in hue, verging on brown, with rich, old-fashioned malt character verging on nutty; the palate was clean, with just a bit of the expected "noble" German hop character, and overall, balanced and poundable.

Very impressive, and the crowd agreed: 40 half-liters were gone at 4:37 p.m., a new record.

Today (Saturday) the last of the week's three Anstich kegs goes on tap around lunchtime at the Public House: Hartmann Märzen. Here are brewery notes from the importer, Dan Shelton:

A small inn and brewpub, founded in 1550, right on the narrow winding highway that runs parallel to the new A70, about 20 kilometers out of Bamberg, Upper Franconia. They make 15,000 hectoliters, all consumed locally, in the Franconian way. They have a wide range. For what it's worth, this is 3 Fonteinen brewer Armand Debelder's favorite place when he visits from Belgium, and its beers are the main inspiration for his Beersel Lager.

There's a new twist for the Holiday Open House, which runs today from noon to 6:00 p.m. at Mike Stephens' establishment. In addition to the planned kegs of Elector and Hoptimus, there also will be a bracing trio of NABC seasonals: ConeSmoker, Naughty Claus and Solidarity.

As Webmaster Michael reminds us: "Representatives of the NABC will be dropping in throughout the afternoon to show their support, sample the merchandise and enjoy a little cigar and beer talk."

Friday, December 11, 2009

It proved to be somewhat of a surprise yesterday when Jeremy, our day man at the Public House, leaned over and began pouring a glass of Ahornberger from the Anstich keg.

It had been billed as a Märzen, and described as "malty, hoppy, and dark." One out of three isn't bad; the liquid filling my glass was straw golden in color and not at all overtly hoppy. It was soft and malty, and given the Bavarian habit in recent years to brew ever less colorful Märzens, perhaps still somewhere in that category, albeit tenuously.

However, as good as it tasted -- fresh, perfectly conditioned and perfect for kocking back a few if there'd been time -- it was not what we'd been led to believe. Later in the evening, Matt Dinges of Shelton Brothers confirmed that he'd received a similar comment from another account, and would look into it.

Reading between the lines, it would appear that the Shelton shipments of Anstich kegs are being sourced in the Franconian field, as it were, by Herr Winkler of the Weissenohe brewery. The batch we're pouring now was sent with only numbers on the kegs, a (hopefully) matching list, and brief descriptions of "amber" or "dark." There certainly is room for discrepancies in the system, and I'm sure Shelton will rectify any that appear ... like yesterday's golden dark beer.

Meanwhile, it's another day, and time for the next Anstich: Rothenbach Märzen. Here are the importer Dan Shelton's notes:

Founded in 1886; makes 15,000 hectoliters a year. Yet another family-owned brewpub, a picturesque place in the tiny town of Aufsess, in the Fränkische Schweiz -- the Franconian Switzerland. (There's nothing at all like the Alps here, so the name is a little over-blown.) We've never had the Märzen, which is highly recommended by our Franconian connection at the monastery brewery in Weissenohe.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Franconian Anstich (gravity pour) mania returns to the Public House this afternoon with Märzen from Ahornberger. That means 40 half-liter pours and out, at the fair price of $5 each. Märzens from Rothenbach and Hartmann will be tapped tomorrow and Saturday, respectively.

Yesterday, while at the Cavalier warehouse in Indianapolis, we determined that actually there will be seven gravity-pour Anstich kegs, not six, during the current round. The seventh turns out to be Klosterbrauerei Weissenohe's Christmas lager. There will be time to revise the tapping schedule for next week, but since this week's selections already have been delivered, we'll stick with the Ahornberger today.

Dan Shelton describes it like this:

They do a bunch of seasonal variations on their basic Landbier ('country beer'), including the Märzen, which is described as malty, hoppy, and dark.

As many of you already know, John Campbell, Josh Hill and the Publican ventured to Indianapolis for an NABC sales day on Wednesday, December 9, leading up to the unveiling of Hoptimus at Barley Island Broad Ripple at 6:00 p.m.

A long day spent with Mat Gerdenich and the Cavalier crew had me losing my voice (and much of my liver) even before the headline event began, but that's show biz.

After a caffeine-fueled morning tour of the Cavalier warehouse, culminating in Mark Kocher and I transcribing a shipment of Anstich kegs, John and Josh departed with Cavalier's Greg Blackman. Mat and I started our day at Spencer's Stadium Tavern, where we were shown an incredible collection of antique cans, many unopened, in the cellar.

We then lunched at Dick's Bodacious BBQ downtown, and I confirmed that 15-B Porter and pulled pork work very well together.

Next, there was a stop at the new Sun King brewery and taproom (also downtown) to chat with Indy brewing stalwarts Dave Colt and (briefly) Clay Robinson. Look for Sun King to randomly pour at the Public House early in 2010, and for their Imperial Cream Ale to appear at Gravity Head.

After a pause for breath, a drive to Zionsville followed, and I enjoyed a fun conversation with Patrick of Patrick's Kitchen & Drinks, where Elector is on tap. I've not met Patrick, but we go way back, because during a stint as general manager at the Bloomington Brewing Company, he observed the villainy of NABC's ouster by the monopolistic fascists at the Big Red Liquors festival on April 10, 2003.

After that, Mat navigated the icy squalls to Broad Ripple, and we embarked upon a visit to the Corner Wine Bar/Wellington's (Beak's Best soon will be on tap in the cozy confines of the latter), and rejoined the joint sales team at Chumley's Beer House, where many excellent beers currently are on tap, displacing the golden lagers that once were the norm.

Finally, it was a short stumble to Barley Island Broad Ripple, and a shiny Hoptimus pressed into my hand before I had the chance to shed my jacket.

That's efficient service in my book, and you'd forget your hop additions, too, if you'd been through my various opening acts (and pints) that I did.

We appreciate Jeff Eaton and the BIBR team's efforts, and it was wonderful to see Tom, Veronica, Joe, Rita, the Involuntary's, and the entire Indianapolis craft beer community, from which so many braved the elements to absorb hops intravenously.

Straight from the Hoosier Beer Geek crew, who were out in force, photos of the evening can be viewed here.

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

From Drew Johnson, beer manager for Louisville's Liquor Barn. Apologies to those who went to the Irish Rover last night expecting to see me; something about well-laid plans going awry. I'll definitely be teaching the class described below.

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This Saturday, December 12th, from 2-4pm at Liquor Barn Springhurst we arehaving Roger Baylor, owner of the New Albanian Brewing Company, here to doa special tasting for you, our customers.

Roger will be teaching a class on: "Porters: A History of the Style." We will be sampling the New Albanian Old 15-B Porter as well as their new seasonal Solidarity.

Solidarity is a small batch Baltic Porter (8.5% abv). Liquor Barn was lucky enough to receive only one of five kegs distributed to Louisville. Once it is gone it will not be available until next fall!

In addition to the two NABC Porters, Roger has hand selected several other Porters to fit in with our category discussion. We will be tasting the following Porters in this progression:

Liquor Barn will be charging $5 for this class. Each cutomer will receive a 4oz sample of each beer as well as several cheese samples to cleanse your palate and some local Blue Dog Bread.

This tasting will take place in our educational center located in the front of the store. Space is limited, so do not miss out on this great opportunity. If you wish to pre-pay for your ticket please ask for a manager or a member of the beer department to ring you up. Hold on to your receipt, as it is your ticket to the tasting.

We will also have some New Albanian 1/2 gallon growlers on hand for people who wish to purchase any of the NABC beers on-tap. There will be a special discount for customers who attend the class.

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

The afternoon was spent researching the latest shipment of Anstich kegs from Shelton Brothers, which Cavalier Distributing in Indianapolis will be conveying to the Public House in time for pouring on Thursday, December 10.

If you’re just joining us, we had riotous fun in September and October during NABC’s Sandkerwa NA, an annual celebration of the Franconian brewing ethos. Our homage was immeasurably enhanced by the Shelton Brothers importing company, which has begun importing rare Franconian lagers in 20-liter, "Anstich" kegs. One after the other, the kegs comprising the first batch were drained, and we simply had a marvelous time drinking them.

These are gravity-feed kegs with no CO2 used to push the beer. Just as in Franconia, we set an Anstich keg on the counter behind the bar, punch a hole in the top, and use a rubber mallet to insert a tap at the bottom. Once tapped, the 40 half-liter glasses of beer therein must be consumed forthwith, or the remainder will go flat. Because of this, we'll again be selling these special beers at a special price: $5.00 per half liter.

Each of the six Anstich kegs we’re purchasing is described as Märzen, so I’ve included only the brewery’s name in the tentative schedule that follows (except for Weissenohe Monk’s Fest, which we had previously on CO2 pour).

Following the tapping schedule are excerpts from the importer Dan Shelton’s notes on the beers, which provide basic information on the breweries and their beers. I now understand that Shelton works with Urban Winkler of the Weissenohe brewery to source these great beers, and my thanks go to him, Dan Shelton, Matt Dinges and everyone else who are making these shipments possible. It's been my favorite new development in a year packed with them.

AhornbergerBrauerei Strössner, founded in 1739 in Ahornberg, is a good-sized family-owned brewery making 80,000 hectoliters a year. It is located in the far north of Franconia, north and east of Kulmbach. They do a bunch of seasonal variations on their basic Landbier ('country beer'), including the Märzen, which is described as malty, hoppy, and dark.

RothenbachFounded in 1886; makes 15,000 hectoliters a year. Yet another family-owned brewpub, a picturesque place in the tiny town of Aufsess, in the Fränkische Schweiz -- the Franconian Switzerland. (There's nothing at all like the Alps here, so the name is a little over-blown.) The beers tend to be very solid, if perhaps uninspired here, but we've never had the Märzen, which is highly recommended by our Franconian connection at the monastery brewery in Weissenohe.

HartmannA small inn and brewpub, founded in 1550, right on the narrow winding highway that runs parallel to the new A70, about 20 kilometers out of Bamberg, Upper Franconia. They make 15,000 hectoliters, all consumed locally, in the Franconian way. They have a wide range. For what it's worth, this is 3 Fonteinen brewer Armand Debelder's favorite place when he visits from Belgium, and its beers are the main inspiration for his Beersel Lager.

Günther-BräuIn little Burgkunstadt, just outside of Kulmbach, in Upper Franconia, this is one of three small family-owned brewpubs in a town of a few hundred people. Makes only 6000 hectoliters a year. Founded in 1840.

Lang-BräuA small but ambitious brewpub in a very tiny village in the far east of Upper Franconia, founded in 1853. Makes 15,000 hectoliters a year. For better or worse, they make a very big range. They seem to crave attention, and get it with some gimmicky things like Erotik Bier, with a label that stops just short of being pornographic, and another beer named for the latest Pope, Benediktus XVI. For some reason, they also put the labels on their dark and light wheat beers on upside down. The Märzen label is properly staid.

A quick random note: John's taking Rosa L. Stumblebus, NABC's draft truck, around to several accounts in Louisville. She was parked in front of the Mid City Mall last Saturday for the Valumarket beer fest, and will be in front of the Irish Rover tonight as we conduct Community Dark/Mild Class.

Monday, December 07, 2009

I'll be at the Irish Rover (2319 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville) on Tuesday night, December 8, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Scotch eggs may be consumed, but the real reason I'm going is to celebrate the presence of NABC's Community Dark on the Rover draft lineup. We're calling the occasion, "Community Dark: A History of Mild," and in addition to our version of dark-colored, light-bodied session ale, John Campbell with have growlers of Bob's Old 15-B and WeeFoot Stout as evidence of the range of other, similarly dark English- and Irish-influenced libations.

Come out to the Rover tomorrow night for a few jars and some beer talk.

Saturday, December 05, 2009

Saturnalia MMIX got under way yesterday at the Pizzeria & Public House, and I tried to take a nip of most contestants before enjoying a massively fat stogie.

Mike had cellared a keg each of 2008 releases of Three Floyds Alpha Klaus and Delirium Noel, and they are absolutely prime. With both, it seems that a slight oxidization has brought out complex malt flavors reminiscent of brown (or perhaps candi) sugar. Enjoy them before the arc shifts downward. Another favorite Saturnalia tipple of mine is the lone French cider currently on tap: Etienne Dupont Cidre Bouche Brut, with an ideal balance of sweetness and dryness.

All opening selections are in good condition, with the starting lineup being one for the lovers of malt among you.

Hopheads note: Sierra Celebration is as good as always, and more Saturnalia-listed hops are on the way in the days to come. Note also that WinterCoat Oatmeal Stout is a regular keg, not a firkin, meaning that there's room for a handpull. We'll check into our stock on Monday and see what's there.

Good news: The latest allotment of Franconian "Anstich" kegs is in Indianapolis, and you'll begin seeing them next Thursday, December 10. As before, we'll probably tap one on Thursday, two on Friday, and one on Saturday.

Bad news: As many as six of the pre-ordered Saturnalia from Shelton Brothers did not arrive, and probably will not. When I receive confirmation from the company, I'll let you know. Numerous other imported Saturnalia beers are scheduled to arrive from B. United International, and as soon as I receive word, it will passed along.

Thursday, December 03, 2009

Earlier this week, and if memory serves, River City Distributing reported that NABC has beer on tap at 31 Louisville establishments (45 taps in all, counting multiple taps in the same place). I count 29 in the list below, but that's close enough.

Dozens of beers are yet to come, and they'll appear as the first wave recedes. Roughly two-thirds of the imports are in transit, and we'll just have to wait and see. Higher gravity latecomers might be shifted to Gravity Head duty. All in all, Saturnalia beers will be occupying guest tap space until January, so you have plenty of time to peruse and enjoy them.

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Local craft beer love, courtesy of "The Beer Issue" in this week's Velocity, which for non-Louisvillians is Gannett's weekly "alternative" spin-off from the Courier-Journal, probably soon to be absorbed into the Metromix:

Situated behind Mai's Thai and Regions Bank on East 10th Street in Jeffersonville is one of two Southern Indiana go-to locations for good cigars, pipes, pipe tobacco, lighters, humidors, and accessories: Youngstown Cigar Shop.

Proprietor Mike Stephens has an advantage over the other fine area tobacco emporium, Kaiser (on Pearl Street in downtown New Albany), in that a couple of years back, he expanded into an adjacent space, remodeled and opened a cafe with a beer permit.

Now, at a time when indoor pub smoking is becoming scarce hereabouts, there's still a place where cigar lovers like me can light one up, kick back into an easy chair, and accompany my Dominican with a craft-brewed beer.

But wait: There's more, and it gets even better.

Mike has space for three 1/6 barrel kegs, and currently, two of them are being devoted to NABC's Elector and Bob's Old 15-B.

He's planning on making it three soon, in part because starting at 12:00 noon on Saturday, December 12, he'll be staging Youngstown's annual pre-Christmas cigar event. I don't yet know the specifics, but it's certain that NABC will be on hand to take part. The show will last until 6:00 p.m., and you can expect to see me toward the end, as I've been double-booked for another spectacle across the river.

By that time, in the winter gloaming, one of Mike's cigars and an NABC ale are going to provide a fitting, relaxing close to a busy day.

Todd Antz's annual holiday beer tasting falls on the night before Saturnalia begins at the Public House. I've placed an asterisk by the bottled selections below to indicate the ones that will be coming on draft during NABC's fest. Sample them at the Keg, then have a pint when they come on line. I will.

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Keg Liquors5th Annual Holiday Insanity Beer TastingThursday, December 35:00 – 8:00 p.m.Another of our great traditions. We conclude the year’s beer tasting schedule with a bang, featuring Holiday and Seasonal beers from around the world. Here is the lineup for this year's tasting: